- Why this story and what are the implications to authority?
- Result of the Messianic miracle
- Obviously, lots of details left out
- Jesus has authority over paralysis
- Jesus has the power to forgive sin
- Who gives men power to heal? God
- So, we have a conundrum, how does Jesus heal if he blasphemes God
- Either he is God
- Or he has another source of power, which would be evil. Problem with the evil argument which Jesus will point out is why would Satan want to do good?
- What is the issue?
- Eating with unclean persons, sinners
- So what does this have to say in respect to Jesus' authority or power?
- He is not beholden to the religious traditions
- He is not beholden to religious culture
- In fact, he fully obeys the law by shoving it in the Pharisees' face
- There are a lot of things to focus on in this passage. What are the aspects of authority?
- Women with the bleeding -- nothing is impossible. A 12-year problem was instantly healed
- She is ritually unclean because of her hemorrhaging
- She touches a ceremonial part of Jesus' clothes (one of the four tassels) that would be considered the holiest and was required in worship
- Jairus is also an issue of timing. He was in a hurry. He says here that his daughter has just died, although the other gospels say near death. The point is that time is very short and the interruption may have caused them to be too late. Again, nothing is too hard or impossible for God
- Bringing someone back from the dead is amazing and rare, but it was not limited to the Messiah (1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:17-37; Acts 9:36-42) nor was it a unique Messianic miracle
- This would not be a resurrection but rather a resuscitation, since the body needed to be dead three days to be considered a resurrection of life
- It was prophesied that the Messiah would restore life (Isa 65:17-20; Dan 12:2)
- Verse 26 is key, why?
- These are stories that would force people to think
- Is this the Messiah?
- Matthew 9:27–34 (ESV) — 27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
- One of these miracles is a messianic miracle, the casting out of a demon from a mute
- The other miracle is not clear since the person has to be born blind
- This event occurs sometime after the rejection in Matt 12, so this is not what they might be thinking but this is after they reach their conclusion. Next week we will go back in time to discuss the specific rejection of the Messiah
- Also, after the rejection, Jesus started to required faith to heal people
- He was no longer saving Israel, he was saving the remnant in Israel
- He condemned the nation for its unbelief
- He still saved individuals
- This story also occurs after the rejection
- What is Jesus concern?
- People are harassed and helpless
- Grk word (skullo) meaning vexed, trouble, harrased (literal: skin or mangle)
- Grk word (rhipto) meaning cast to the ground, thrown away
- There a not enough workers
- Very common word for laborer or worker (ergates)
- What is the Jesus saying to us, who are also his disciples?
- Clearly, we are to pray for workers
- What is a worker?
- By definition: it is anyone who ministers in some way to those vexed, trouble, harassed, and to those who are cast off or thrown away by others (which is pretty much everybody)
- What is are the requirements for a worker?
- None are listed here
- Jesus provides some qualifications in the next few verses
- Timeline: This event occurs immediately after the previous (Winter 29); all of chp 10 does
- Why the instruction to not go to the Gentiles or Samaritans? The primary purpose of Jesus' life was the offer of the kingdom to the Jews (even after the rejection by the leaders). The Jews would then fulfill God's purpose by taking the gospel to the Gentiles
- What are the qualifications?
- We do need Jesus' power
- Note: Matthew's point is to show that Jesus can give his authority to others
- The miraculous sign can be taken too literally. In actuality, signs signaled that something new was happening. I think it would be wrong to apply the signs as a requirement for a worker in this age
- One set of clothes and no money or food
- Common OT trait was showing hospitality to strangers. It doesn't fit necessarily with today's culture. The overriding characteristic does though, which is what?
- Trust in God in your ministry
- Were any of the disciples seminary graduates?
- They had spent time with Jesus, probably less than a year at this point
- Everyone in this room is probably more knowledgeable about the NT than the disciples were at this point
- Examples of workers
- Rom 16:9 Urbanus
- Rom 16:21 Timothy
- 2 Co 8:23 Titus
- Phil 2:25 Epaphroditus
- Philemon 1 Philemon
- What makes Philemon a fellow worker? He was an employer (actually a slave owner, but the closest example would be a businessman)
- Application: Everyone in this room can be a worker. Everyone in this room has opportunity for contact with the harassed and helpless. You don't have to be a deacon or a pastor to be a worker. You don't have to be a man. But you do have to (1) choose to be a worker, and then (2) figure out what can you do to be a worker
- Jesus gives a whole list of advice for workers in vs 15- 42
- What does this verse mean?
- We may never exceed our teachers; and definitely we won't exceed Jesus
- But, Jesus says it is enough to like our teacher
- Jesus is our teacher
- We need to make it our aim in life to be like him
- WWJD really was a great idea, and since then the world has poked fun and scorned it
- But it doesn't matter. It is the operative question. What are we doing to become more like Jesus?
- I hope your answer has more to it than "going to church and Sunday school"
- Incidently, there is a play on words here since Master (be'el) and house (zebel) could be pronounced together as beelzebub
- Who is Jesus talking to?
- WORKER
- What is the point?
- Not to be afraid of the world
- What are we afraid of when it comes to witnessing?
- BTW, if we are going to say something in cynicism or in a mean temper -- it is better off not said
- 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV) But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
- We are afraid of our image
- We are afraid of ridicule
- We are afraid of hurtful words
- God says "don't be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows"
- Sparrows were the cheapest thing you could buy in the market. This is a standard Jewish "how much more" argument. If God cares for something as cheap as a sparrow, how much more he must care for you
- Secondly, there is a reward in heaven for service (10:40 -11:1)
- Pray for workers
- Be a worker
- Be like Jesus
- Don’t be afraid
Matthew 9:1–8 (ESV) — 1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to
his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic,
lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
“Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold,
some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in
your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are
forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may
know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said
to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds
saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority
to men.
Luke 5:17 (ESV) — 17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees
and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of
Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him
to heal.
Luke 5:21–22 (ESV) — 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to
question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins
but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered
them, “Why do you question in your hearts?
Matthew 9:9–17 (ESV) — 9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called
Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose
and followed him.
10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax
collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why
does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a
physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what
this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the
righteous, but sinners.”
14 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the
Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the
bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away
from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a
piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the
garment, and a worse tear is made. 17 Neither is new
wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled
and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so
both are preserved.”
Matthew 9:18–26 (ESV) — 18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a
ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but
come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for
twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made
well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart,
daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made
well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw
the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they
laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in
and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the
report of this went through all that district.
32 As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute
was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man
spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in
Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the
prince of demons.”
Matthew 9:35–38 (ESV) — 35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and
villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the
kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were
harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the
laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest
to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Matthew 10:1–15 (ESV) — 1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave
them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every
disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve
apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother;
James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and
Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus,
and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed
him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the
Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather
to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim
as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You
received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no
gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your
journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his
food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out
who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the
house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let
your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not
receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when
you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will
be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah
than for that town.
Matthew 10:24–25 (ESV) — 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant
above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his
teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of
the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
Matthew 10:26–33 (ESV) — 26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered
that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear
whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear
those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can
destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two
sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart
from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge
before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever
denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
APPLICATION:
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